In this famously edgy series, we interrogate IT Pros in order to find out what makes them tick. In this episode, we dug ruthlessly into the life of @@NGIE, aka "Angie."

Round One: Basic Questions

What brought you to Spiceworks?

Back in Time, I was hired as a Network Administrator for a Manufacturing company and came across Spiceworks as they offered free Helpdesk. I implemented this throughout the company. I was not at all involved in the community of Spiceworks then, not until I accepted a contract position at a small Health Center--they were using Spiceworks. I then fully immersed myself in it and started to make friends and attending OTAs and webbys.

What keeps you here?

My friends, the super valuable info and direct connect with your vendors and can I say it? Justin, Chelsea, Matty, Bailey, David S and Leey from the OTA and VMUs webbys. Spiceworks is the coffee for your technical needs.

What is your favorite aspect of the site?

You can vent, laugh, cry and get also in seriously in trouble (not me just saying...). The Community for sure.

What got you into the IT field?

I used to be a Real Estate Appraiser and the computer which I input the data into – used to break quite frequently. I got tired of this guy never being on time to fix it so I started to fix it myself.

What has been your favorite part of the industry?

The amount of different industries I’ve been able to work in. Banking, Healthcare, Entertainment, Music Production, Construction, Manufacturing, Schools, Government,MSP’s. You aquire quite a bit of knowledge over 15 some years.

What do you do now?

I’m [redacted]

[None of the plethora of sounds on the recording at this point seem to be relevant. She apparently took "now" too literally, and wasn't complimentary about the circumstances she was in. The interrogator, in return, didn't appreciate the criticism.]

How did you learn your job?

OTJ – On the job training, especially by creating chaos and messing up – you learn how to fix the weirdest situations and you will forever remember your first “OOOOPS”

What are your favorite technologies to work with?

No favorites here – I just don’t like MACs.

What sort of challenges do you face in maintaining your infrastructure?

Luckily I no longer have to worry about the infrastructure unless my Boss is out sick. I know how to, but I’m just better with people than with machines. I’m no longer the 5 AM wake up call person or the one that takes work home because there are not enough hours in the day to finish this or that. When I’m off I’m off--I’m learning now to keep a healthy work-life balance.

What new technologies are you implementing or looking at? Why?

Nope not me--I’m running with whatever is decided.

What recent projects have you wrapped up? What did you learn from them?

MFA/Intune Enrollment. People do not read emails – EVER. Don’t waste your time typing up instructions -they will never be read.

Do you have any other story from the IT trenches that you would like to share?

Too many of them to fit in this interview. Most all of them start with arriving to the job site getting asked: “Ok so where is the Network Engineer, is HE still coming?”

What advice do you have for people entering the IT field today?

If you don’t absolutely love what you do – don’t force yourself. Don’t work a help desk if you don’t like people – stick with programming.

Do you have any other advice or a message for your fellow spicefolk?

Don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t take anything personally. Participate in your community and go to your SpiceCorps Meetups. Reach out to fellow SpiceHeads. Go to SpiceWorld – it’s the biggest party in town.

Creamy or crunchy peanut butter?

YUCK – Peanut butter! When I first tried it, no one told me that it would stick to the rooftop of your mouth and nearly choke you to death. I will stick with Reese's. [redacted]

[Some kind of choking noise at this point... honestly unsure whether it was a result of a severe hatred of peanut butter, or Reese's, or if it was, err... "encouragement" by the interrogator.]

What color is your toothbrush?

I think it’s white – funny I never paid attention to it.

What is your favorite color?

Rainbow colors and since I’m an 80s girl, all things neon and glow in the dark,

What are your favorite hobbies?

Something I like doing in my spare time – SLEEEEP!

[Minor scuffling at this point. I think the point was a complaint about being abducted in the middle of the night, but nothing pertinent to the interview.]

He-Man, She-Ra, and Flash Gordon. That’s all I could get on my black and white TV.

Who asks you for IT assistance the most outside of work?

No one. They know better.

If you were a superhero (or supervillain) what would your super power be?

While the unicorn is curious, imaginative and resourceful, its ultimate power is in its ability to survive. Whenever a unicorn hits a difficult time in its life or even criticism from others for being itself, it simply turns its horn toward the negativity and lets the horn soak it in.

The unicorn’s horn is a like a sponge for the pain of adversity and insults. While others collapse at the first sign of resistance or at the first criticism they receive, the unicorn is able to take that dark black negativity and turn it into a rainbow of awesome achievement.

Bonus torture round (questions added by former subjects)

Do you listen to music while you work or do you prefer silence? If you do, then what Genre keeps you going?

Nope – I got to have it completely quiet or I will not be able to concentrate.

What was your first computer equipment?

Atari ST

What kind of personal computer equipment do you use now?

Lenovo Thinkpad, Android Tablet

What was Florida Man doing on a significant date in your life?

Apparently he got shot in the [redacted].

What is your favorite food or meal?

Creamed Spinach

What spicy User Groups do you participate in?

A lot

If you had to choose a non-IT career path, what would it be?

I would love to be an Artist

What is your beverage of choice in the morning?

Coffee--double espresso please.

What is a guilty pleasure that no one would suspect about you?

I love to watch Toddlers and Tiaras and say “Yes” to the dress.

How do you usually dress for work?

Jeans and T-shirt

How do you wind down after a hard day's work?

Come home to my 11 year old Lhasa Apso Zeus – that’s all I need.

What is your favorite video game character?

Donkey Kong

What do you do to keep yourself physically fit?

Stairs and more stairs

What's something non-techy you do that gets a "Wow, I could never do that" response from most people?

Being patient and enjoying the company of elderly folks. You be surprised how much you can learn from them.

Do you do any volunteer work? If so, where do you volunteer and what do you do?

I volunteer in our local soup kitchen, and since I’m AA, I volunteer my time talking to the AA Community – by holding meetings, speaking at events etc., Reading to the elderly in Senior homes.

If you could color your hair – meaning work would allow anything – what color would it be and why?

Just as it is now – Lilac and blue

Do you plan meals or going out during the week?

The smart thing to do is meal planning, which I do sometimes, but eating out is so much more fun (also more money).

What is your most comfortable pair of shoes?

Danski Clogs – I have some funky looking colorful ones – like you’re walking on air!

What was the last gift you gave someone?

A 1 year Medallion that I gave to one of my Sponsees in AA–-so stinkin proud of her.

A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?

The Server room is getting kind of hot and sombreros are really not my style – fix it please?

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

My values change. I wish death on some, crabs on others, and question whether people got their driver's licenses in the lottery.

__________And there you have it. The practically complete transcript of the interrogation. Feel free to ask additional questions in the comments below.

Tune in next time as we delve into the psyche of another subject.... or, if you think you can stand the heat, you can volunteer for your own interrogation. Write to news@spiceworks.com with the subject line "IT Interrogation" (or alternatively "Willing Victim").

Sometimes, as with the very first vic-- er, volunteer, I just show up on their doorstep as it were and ask them if they would like to participate.

I have gotten a lot of volunteers that way. :) Must be my charming personality... or I guess it could be the weapons? .... Nah.

Since that first day though, I have had to do that less and less.

At the end of each of these published transcripts, we ask for volunteers, and you would be surprised at how many cra-- er, enthusiastic-- people have written in, wondering how they, too, can participate in this, err, .... stimulating program.

We also have allowed past victims to "volunteer" others if they would like to. (Some people call this "throwing [someone] under the bus" which I don't really understand since we have never used a bus for missions like this.)

I assume, since you ask, that you would like to be added to the list? :D

"
My values change. I wish death on some, crabs on others, and question whether people got their driver's licenses in the lottery
"

I figured a lot of drivers I deal with daily received theirs from a cereal box but a lottery would also explain it.

I question if people have one at all...

We refer to it as First-Time Drivers Day. Or any day ending in Y, round here. Bonus tip: if you ever see an AL plate that begins with 62, that means Tallapoosa County - give a VERY wide berth, they crazy...!